The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-25
FESTIVITIES OF CHRISTMAS
Throngs ofPresent-Buyers at the Stores
and On the Streets Yesterday.
Evidences of the Growing Appreciation of
the Merriest Of Holidays-Special Serv-
ices at the Churches To-Day.

CROWDED yesterday with Christmas shoppers.
Never has the holiday season been more fayora.
bic for tradesmen, for it appears that everyone
who had dollar to spare expended il for gifts.
Bundles and packages were almost as numerous
as the persons on the streets, and in the post
Office and express Offices people had to wait their
turn in getting at the staIap window or the ship
per's counter. This meant that the mails and
express cars were to carry out package after
package of reminders Of the merriest season Ct
the year. For weeks the same scenes could be
observed at these places, but on a smaller scale
Yesterday was the culmination of the buying,
carrying homo purchases or mailing or shipping
them to friends at distance. During the after
noon on Washington street the crowds at times
Amounted to biockades at the crossings Until
fate at night they kept moving, the stream swell
Ing from halfdozen or dozen customers COM
ing constantly from the stores wherever any
thing suitable for present could be
bought. There was an inceseant going
In or coming out at all these places. A proprie-
TOT OF one of the largest stores in the dry goods
hne, as he complacenty contemplated the
throng inspecting and lessening his stock. said:
This is not like the Chrstmases I had when a
boy down East Children, even those of the
wealthy, thought themselves lucky if they got
"a their stocking an orange, bit OF candy and q
few nuts Those thinge were the limits Of
Christmas gifts thirty years ago. New Eng
ianders made the most of Fourth OF July
Thanksgiving and Fast days. but Christmas did
not have the holiday about it one now feels.
no matter where he may be. Wherever the
Christian religion prevails there is Christmas
observance. with all the kindness and good
viii that people can express"
DO you think the people as whole, appre-
clate holidaysl' he was asked.
More so than twenty or twenty five years
ago. We do not have enough holidays, and as
Tor Christmas 1t must be a hardened nature that
does not feel the better for it I have seen re-
peated evidences of its influence for weeks in
the customers who have come into the store.
we have been keeping open until o'clock at
oignt since the first of the month and in the
crowds that come to buy, large proportion of
.hem are made up of people who for months
nave not been Washington street. They
come from the factory districts where the daily
routine OF family IS for the head of it to 60 way
early IN the morning and return late in the
evening. He wants to enjoy home all
ne can and therefore is seldom up town.
But Christmas brought him and his
one great holiday. The other evening
noticed especially man and wife standing az
the end OF the cheap counters. They were
clearly and comfortably dressed, and had with
them large market basket well filed with pro-
visions The man showed much interest as
the woman, and although the purchases were
trihine, they were enjoyed. we will have to
get this for Mary said the husband he
picked up small article with smiles beaming
gil over his face. Yes and this will do for
johnnie. the wife replied, with an answering
smile. The working people take great delight
In Christmas shopping. L. is those having more
money to spend who fiud it difficult to settle on
what they want
II should think the reverse was true"
wen, perhaps most of the Christmas shop
pers, when it comes to making selections, are at
1852 to decide, but il is not how much they shall
spend, so far as the rich and well to do are con-
cerned. but what they shall buv that worries
them The other day a man came into the store
aud said II want to buy presents, and don't know
what to get Can you suggest anything suta-
bier After ascertainne to whom the presents
were to be given, put him in charge of sales
woman who had excellent taste in the matter of
dresses. She sold him four-one for each of his
daughters. Then a lot of purchases for
other members of the family and when he quit
buying the bill amounted to 5000 He said that
when he came into the store he dreaded making
selections, but with the assistance given him he
found it an enjoyable occupation. But his pur-
chaSes were small compared with those of 9th
ers. some of whom bought as high as 5000 or
500 worth Of dry goods. This class of presents
is coming more and more into demand People
want to give something that will be of use"
All dealers in holiday goods say their trade
has never been better. One large book firm h as
sold since Thanksgiving day 1000 volumes
The most of them works of standard authors
which last year sold for 81 p per volume. The
demand, said the dealer who gave these facts
has been largely from persons who have to
make every dollar bring It's face value. The
rich and well-todo have not bought books as
extensively this season. Their money has been
expended for fancy articles. but the poor took
advantage of the low prices asked for the
standard English and American noveists."
Some books of this class sold as low as
thirty five cents, and many individual pur-
chases have been in lots of five and
ten. Labor agitation has had a good deal to do
with stimulating the demand. 1t has led the
in their holiday purchases. We have sold a
large number of Websters unabridged. and
another noticeable change in the demand for
books from booksh people is that the teachers
have been better customers in this respect than
ciergymen, lawyers and doctors. Our Christ
day, and the crowds of purchasers have con-
tinued as large you it to-day"
There has been a large trade in draperies and
goods Of that kind for presents. They were sold
at 25 per cent less than last year and
while more goods have been sold, the dealers
receipts not much larger. In jewelry,
costly watches and diamonds have been In
course Christmas staples and show up well in
receipts. In every branch of trade the results
have been most satisfactory.
Entertainments by Sunday Schools.
The Christmas entertainment given by the
Central avenue NJ. E. Sunday school last even
ing was In every way thoroughly enjoyable.
Every available inch of space in the church was
occupied. The exercises consisted of recitations
and the rendition of a cantata. 'The Gruff
Judge and Happy Santa Claus. selection very
happy in its adaptation to Sundays-chool en-